How old is your toothbrush?

If it’s older than 4 months, it’s time for a new one.

Another option is to boil your toothbrush for 10 minutes to kill off the bacteria – but the bristles don’t last too much longer than 6 months anyway.

Take care of your teeth. Take care of your health. Get a new toothbrush!

Photo by Sanja Gjenero

Ooooh, we’re excited today!

It’s the first day of our all new first class of 2010. If you haven’t signed up yet, do it now and don’t miss a day. If you’re already a member, then head to class – check your email, and pop onto the class page to see what’s in store for you.

What does it mean to live with inTENtion? At Marilu.com, it means making conscious choices – almost like making commitments instead of choices.

This song is one of our current favorites, and while it talks about telling people you love them (instead of taking relationships for granted), it also works for the other choices (commitments?) we make in a day. “86400 seconds in a day to turn it all around or throw it all away” – every decision to eat a vegetable instead of a bag of fritos or a candy bar, every decision to walk your errands instead of driving them, every decision to take care of yourself is a way to turn it all around and have the Best.Year.Ever.

Here’s the class theme song…

Here’s a very simple breakfast recipe – something hot and satisfying for a cold winter morning.

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Hot Peanut Cereal
Purple * Serves 2-4

1 cup wheat berries
2 cups water
2 Tablespoons organic peanut butter

Optional:
2 teaspoons agave or maple syrup(or to taste)
chopped walnuts
dried cherries or cranberries (miscombined)

Boil water, add wheat berries and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until tender. Stir in peanut butter and optional ingredients.

Copyright © 2010 Hennergy, Inc. All rights reserved.

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential.

~ Ellen Goodman

What’s your potential?
What can you accomplish this year?
Who can you become?

Join Marilu.com and Live InTENtionally in 2010.

Marilu is hosting a public chat with Dr. Neal Barnard, founder and president of Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) right here at Marilu.com on Friday, January 8 at 1 pm Eastern.

Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to ask your questions and learn from two leading health advocates. They’re both well-versed in nutrition to fight cancer, school lunch and children’s nutrition, and eating vegan, as well as other health and nutrition topics.

On Friday, we’ll post the link to the chat room here on the blog. Stay tuned for more information!

Are you ready for a fresh start?
Are you looking for a way to be healthy – and satisfied?
Are you willing to live with inTENtion?

Starting Monday, January 4, you can get a fresh start on the new year with an all-new online class right here at Marilu.com.

Take 21 days to focus on your life and what you want it to be. Learn to live with inTENtion – being conscious of your choices and where they’re leading you. Learn to take responsibility for your health and your happiness.

InTENtional Living in 2010 – become your best at Marilu.com.

Oops! We got a little sidetracked yesterday. Here’s Thursday’s recipe – another excellent Purple Week recipe – something that’s totally healthy, but absolutely delicious. It’s written as a main dish salad, but it’s also perfect in smaller portions as a small meal before you head out to a party, or as a side dish (try it with the Salmon in Parchment from last Monday!).

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Arugula and Grilled Vegetable Salad
from Marilu Henner’s The 30 Day Total Health Makeover
Purple * serves 4

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon water
1-1/2 teaspoons mellow barley miso
1 Tablespoon olive oil
pepper to taste
1 medium-sized sweet onion, peeled and cut into thick slices
1 medium zucchini, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch slices
4-6 cups torn or coarsely chopped arugula
2 Tablespoons whole basil leaves
1 Tablespoon chopped Italian parsley

Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, water, and miso. Dribble in olive oil, whisking continuously until dressing emulsifies. Season with pepper to taste.

Brush onion and zucchini with dressing and grill or broil, turning once, until tender. If zucchini slices are particularly large, cut in half lengthwise after grilling.

Toss together arugula and basil leaves with just enough dressing to coat. Divide among 4 salad plates. Arrange grilled vegetables on top and sprinkle with parsley.

Copyright © 2009-10 Hennergy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Here’s to a year of good health, happiness, and lots of love for you and your family.

Make 2010 a year of InTENtional Living! Live with purpose, make conscious choices, and become your best. Our first online class of the year starts Monday, January 4 – sign up here.

Image by Billy Alexander